Eat The World Tree

[Darling~~~]

“What do you call this?”

[Hehe, was it too much?]

Byeol greeted me playfully after a long time without contact.

[Lee Shiheon, what the~ I was watching the broadcast and got really shocked.]

Perhaps it was because what I showed in the first trial was beyond imagination. Everyone who received my call was surprised.

-Lee Shiheon, you’ve become really strong, haven’t you?

-Hey, Seyeong, who do you think I am?

-…Seeing you act all proud, I suddenly don’t feel like contacting you.

-…Yeah. I want to see you.

Lee Seyeong seemed surprised but reacted as if it was to be expected, and kept nagging me about when to meet.

-Do you know how shocked I was watching that?

-Really?

-How many times did the National Tree… Sigh. You always do something surprising… Weren’t you hurt? I should see you once.

-What?

-…Your body.

Jin Dallae spoke in a worried tone.

-Little Brother.

-Yes?

-I believed in you! Welcome to the path of the mage! Oh, and when are we going to meet?

-Why?

-…I can’t take it anymore.

Hwangdo seemed very satisfied with the qualities I showed as a mage this time.

Most were unsatisfied, but it still felt like I was receiving some affection through the call.

On the other hand, Baekdo ignored my call.

Cheondo, perhaps wanting to maintain the dignity of a teacher, surprisingly had little to say.

My growth was so sudden that all she did was repeatedly ask me to tell my story someday.

[But I was really shocked.]

Byeol said excitedly.

[At this rate, you might actually become an S-rank, huh? Oh my, becoming stronger than me? Well, you’re my boyfriend~ I guess it makes sense? Ah, is it expected? I’m the vice president~ It’s natural for the vice president’s boyfriend to be S-rank! Hehe.]

“Why are you so happy today?”

[Because you contacted me. What, you have so many girlfriends that you’re not excited to talk to me?]

“Come on, that can’t be true.”

Talking to Byeol was always fun.

We were internet buddies, so it’s fun to joke and banter.

[But Shiheon, you’re still far from meeting…]

“I might step out in the middle.”

[Really? Then let’s play a game again.]

Game, game.

If it was that kind of game we played before, I could do it anytime.

[You just thought of something naughty, didn’t you.]

“…No.”

[Don’t lie. True nerds can see it, and weirdos and perverts have a way of understanding each other. I see right through you, Shiheon, even if you’re a bit of a loner these days.]

“Do I look like that?”

[Yeah. Not so much these days though.]

Was that so?

“Caught me.”

[Actually, I did too. Hehe.]

She answered honestly and so did I.

I laughed heartily and said to her,

“So about that thing I asked you last time.”

Now to the main topic.

[Yeah, did you find out anything?]

About the Flower’s attack, to find out if there were any suspicious people among the students. Byeol had tasked me with this investigation once.

Of course, it wasn’t an easy task, and she told me not to worry about it and just enjoy the selection competition. But that meant there was no affection.

I mentioned the most likely candidate first.

“El Academy’s Guseul.”

[Guseul… oh, the one with the bow? She was amazing. How many did she eliminate? Twenty?]

“I’m not sure, but she’s definitely hiding something. If it’s not related to the association… I think we need to investigate.”

[Got it.]

Byeol agreed.

But, Guseul eliminated more than twenty.

That reluctant girl wouldn’t normally do something like that, right?

From the start, because Guseul was in a position to be wary, there was no doubt.

If Guseul was part of Flower…

Those who eliminated the most candidates were likely to be Flower.

[Anyone else?]

“Byeol.”

[It’s weird. You suddenly change how you call me… Why all of a sudden?]

“I’m just guessing, but. Is there a chance that the National Tree could be Flower?”

[National Tree? I’ve never heard of such a thing.]

Byeol spoke in a voice that conveyed her curiosity about why I would think that.

[From the beginning, the National Tree is transparently nurtured and trusted. It’s also entrusted to loyal families that have served the World Trees for generations… It’s a symbol of the nation! They select people who are trustworthy enough to say that.]

“…Hmm.”

[Is something wrong?]

The existence known as the National Tree.

I already knew it’s meant to cultivate the top talents in combating Flower.

But as I mentioned before, it’s not just that Flower were an aggressive terrorist organization.

If you considered that there were also forces that support Flower…

“Just a moment.”

I needed to think this through.

First, I voiced what I had initially thought.

“If we assume the guy I mentioned is Flower, then he has a motive for making students fail.”

[That’s right, the first trial has no merit in making someone fail. If it’s an ordinary civilian… they might do it to get some attention. But if it’s Flower, they must have a hidden agenda.]

Did Flower make eliminations just to draw attention?

There must be a reason for that.

“And now, the number of student dropouts is the highest.”

[Aha. That’s how you approached it.]

A faint doubt lingered, but hearing that Guseul unexpectedly made many students fail deepened that suspicion.

[It’s true.]

Byeol agreed.

[Indeed, the National Trees who made students fail… compared to the previous National Trees, it’s a lot. This kind of figure is openly targeted.]

“The problem is why they do it.”

If Guseul turned out to be Flower, then the National Tree was also worth suspecting.

[Hm. Simply put, they’re trying to minimize casualties.]

“Casualties?”

That these mad terrorists were trying to reduce casualties?

Byeol immediately responded to my pressing question.

[Yes. Didn’t I tell you? There are moderate ones. They engage in social activism and absolutely do not use violence. The first or second deputies are examples of that. If such people led this attack, it’s a plausible story.]

If that’s the case, then the decision to reduce casualties seemed correct.

[If by any chance, the National Trees were persuaded by Flower to join their side… it would have been much easier for the moderates. They focus on society’s weaknesses and try to fix them.]

Byeol continued the story slowly.

[Still, if that’s really the case… it might be tough even for me. We have to be careful not to approach carelessly.]

“In my opinion, only the National Trees can turn the situation around.”

[I know. But it’s the National Tree. Suspecting it is almost like turning your back on the nation.]

The criticism of the National Tree could be seen as a critique of the nation’s identity.

It’s not without reason that the National Trees seemed to lose their identity and wander.

Maronnie was like that.

Burdened by too much responsibility, longing for an ordinary life.

Then, what if the National Tree really was a traitor?

Byeol answered as if it were nothing.

[The country would be turned upside down. They would try to avoid responsibility somehow… If Kim Soo-yeon from Korea is part of Flower, the KOSPI would crash and… the Hunters Association would be screwed. Anyway, it’s going to be tough.]

I saw.

Given that the families producing the National Trees play a role similar to corporations, if such a family were to come under suspicion, it could indeed shake the nation.

“So, for Flower, having a National Tree on their side would be the best scenario.”

[That would be the case. But again, it’s a big if. I’m not saying I don’t trust Shiheon’s judgment, but… I’m not so sure.]

Always assume the worst.

If you dismissed the possibility outright, you might miss the disaster that could happen in a blink.

After all, the manpower Byeol and I used was nothing compared to what’s being used in the Forester Selection Competition.

It wouldn’t be a problem for us to suspect the National Trees.

“My gut says so.”

[…Okay. I guess I have to trust that.]

“Can you really trust it that much? Vice president.”

[It’s not about being the vice president now, but Shiheon’s girlfriend.]

“Kuhuhuhu. Thanks. Really.”

I was grateful to have such a good connection.

While I was at the Forester Selection Competition, it’s good to have someone to act on my behalf externally.

Now, there were Aori and Taeyang too.

I was not sure if they had any ulterior motives yet, but for now, they were on my side.

[I appreciate you taking care of my business. But still, take care of yourself.]

“I will.”

[Yeah. You are more precious than those damn Flower guys, you know?]

“Got it.”

[Okay. I have to go work now, so I’m hanging up?]

Click.

I hung up the phone and put it down.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll enter the second trial.

This time, unlike the first trial, there’s a span of two weeks to decide how much time to invest in the trial.

In short, if you could finish the trial in a day, the rest of the time was free time.

Though it was unlikely to be that easy.

‘Receiving a trial from a tree.’

No matter what conditions are set, I’ll just have to overcome them.

I got up from the bed, stretched, and stepped out of the room.

It was precisely the time I had agreed to meet Sansuyu at the restaurant.

Creak.

The door opened, revealing a silhouette.

Could Sansuyu be waiting in front?

I had that thought, but soon a figure I didn’t like appeared, and I stiffened my face.

“Hey.”

Thump!

Instant wall slam.

She looked down at me as I slightly bent my knees.

“Stick around.”

Baobab tree.

Since that day, this girl has been challenging me to a fight every morning.

“So what should we do about this?”

I sighed as I shove food into my mouth.

Still, chewing on expensive beef from the morning did bring a surge of happiness.

It felt like the quality of life was just skyrocketing.

“Is that why hyung was late?”

“Yeah.”

“I couldn’t even speak to Sansuyu because of that. Left alone and suffering. You ditched me over a woman…”

“Does that sound weird?”

Let’s have breakfast together sometime.

Since Sansuyu and I were supposed to have breakfast together, I called them at the same time with the notion of greeting each other.

But Taeyang couldn’t even approach Sansuyu.

“What kind of guy who flirts around acts like that?”

“…Flirting?”

Sansuyu reacted to my words.

Her eyes suspiciously gaze at Taeyang.

“Sister…”

At first, she was wary and suspicious, but since this guy was quite approachable, they soon started talking.

Aori wasn’t much different.

“Ignore what hyung says. He’s got no libido left to even do that.”

“Even when I’m not around?”

“Shit… If you can’t believe it, shall I show you?”

“I don’t want to see.”

Aori, who was voraciously eating fried eggs, then pulled my arm.

“I saw it myself. He picked up a girl, laid her on the bed, but just sat there with a blank face, looking utterly miserable.”

“Is that so?”

“So, he ended up getting slapped. What was he even doing?”

Aori’s candid words made sense of the noise from the room next door last night.

The kid’s really lost his taste.

It was a scene that made one solemn.

“Hyung.”

“Yes.”

“Excuse me, but could you die just once for me.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Just once, and then I’ll be castrated. I’m really feeling lonely without even saying goodbye?”

I quickly covered Sansuyu’s ears.

“Don’t say such things in front of the kid.”

“…Sorry, sister.”

And don’t approach her when I am not around.

Having understood my intentions, Taeyang and Aori nodded and continued eating their food.

After all, there was no reason to meet Sansuyu when I wasn’t around.

It’s not a big deal, but if Sansuyu picked up some dirty jokes from the kids… I think I’d go mad.

The Sansuyu inside me didn’t need to be tainted.

“…What’s wrong, Shiheon?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s eat.”

Sansuyu tore bread and ate without any change in expression. Watching us, Taeyang shook his head.

“Hyung, you seem to care a lot about sister.”

“Then stop making those jokes.”

“Yes.”

He sure knew how to respond.